5 Ways to Make a Hot, Crispy Sandwich Without a Panini Press

On the stove, with a pan lid as a press.

I used to have a little countertop grill, the jawed sort with removable plates (always thought of them as dentures) for waffles, sandwiches, and grilling. But it took up too much space, and I used it precisely never, finally purging it during a move. I still love hot sandwiches, though, and I've found that a panini press is fairly unnecessary. Here are 5 ways to get the sandwich without the gadget.

Pan on the stove, with another pan for a press. - Similar to the method above, but using a heavy pan. This is good for sandwiches with a lot of cheese inside. You can even preheat the top pan on a burner or in the oven to help the top layer of the sandwich heat faster. (Just be careful and use a good oven mitt!) (Pictured: Tomato Mozzarella Sandwich.

Faith is executive editor of The Kitchn and author of three cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning The Kitchn Cookbook, coauthored with Sara Kate Gillingham, as well as Bakeless Sweets. She lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband Mike.